507-377-7433 - Senior Resources

Senior Resources of Freeborn County
October November December
2014
Quarterly Newsletter
Senior Scene
You’re invited
Tea with Family and Friends
Saturday, October 18
10:00 AM
Freeborn County Historical Museum
RESERVATIONS: 507-377-7433
Victorian Etiquette for the 21st Century
This Choose Civility event is sponsored by
Senior Resources and the Freeborn County Historical Museum
Brush up on your etiquette do’s and don’ts in this unique Victorian-era
inspired program, presented by staff from the Alexander Ramsey House in
St. Paul. Learn hints for navigating stressful social situations and discover
the history behind some of our modern-day manners. From polite
conversation and introductions, to modern-day dining and cell phone
etiquette, this program takes Victorian-era manners and brings them
into the 21st century. (Read more about this Choose Civility
event on page 2)
Dave
Eagles Auxiliary Fundraiser
Saturday, November 1st
4:30 to 6:30 PM
Eagle’s Club #2258
205 W. William St.
Albert Lea
Ted
Dinner MENU: Prime Rib or Walleye Pike Fillet
with baked potato, salad, green beans, bread, coffee: $15/person
Support Senior Resources & other organizations, and have a great meal!
Proceeds benefit: Albert Lea VA Clinic; Senior Resources; Freeborn Co. Humane Society; Semcac
Senior Resources of Freeborn County
Skyline Plaza
1659 W. Main Street
Albert Lea, MN 56007
507-377-7433
SeniorResourcesFC.org
Annette Petersen, Executive Director
Over the past 34 years, Senior Resources
has provided services to the frail and elderly.
Programs have been added that fill needs identified
throughout Freeborn County. We have a great staff
that cares and is committed to the wellbeing
of all those over 55 years young.
In the future, Senior Resources will be
providing classes and other opportunities for
interesting, useful and fun activities, all to help you
improve both your health and your quality of life.
In partnership with other community
organizations, we’re already offering Tai Chi and
Bone Builders, two excellent techniques for maintaining balance, building strength, and avoiding
falls as you age. Take a class about living better
with a chronic disease or how to cope with the
unique challenges of caregiving. See details within
this Senior Scene. Next year we plan to bring
Wellness Through the Arts to the community.
Watch the next edition of the Senior Scene
for more details. Senior Resources is committed to
broadening our services to include everyone over
55 years young. Let’s work together to make
Freeborn County a great place to live, work
and retire. If you have any suggestions,
give me a call at 377-7433.
October is
Choose Civility Month
The Choose
Civility initiative
is committed to
building a
kinder community, one act of
kindness at a time. This year’s
theme emphasizes an essential
element in moving toward that
goal. Good manners—like
“please” and “thank-you”—are
important for all of us. Young
and old can benefit throughout
life from the civility and kindness
that good manners promote.
Tea with Family and Friends
[see front cover of this issue]
offers you, and others of all ages,
an opportunity to learn or
refresh good manners, all while
enjoying the art of “having tea.”
Medicare
If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage
or prescription drug plan, you may have received
information about how these plans will change in the
Open Enrollment coming year. Changes might include variations in
Period Approaches premium costs, deductible amounts, or covered
medications. If you’re unhappy with how your plans will
change, don’t panic! October 17th to December 7th, 2014, is the Medicare Open
Enrollment Period; during this time you can sign up for a new Medicare Advantage or
Part D prescription drug plan—to begin January 1st, 2015—without penalty.
Senior Resources is available to help you in making a decision as you compare plans
and evaluate options; we can even help you enroll in a new plan. Through the official
website for Medicare—www.medicare.gov—enrolling online is actually pretty simple.
You will need to provide your Medicare card and a current list of your medications,
including dosage, quantity and refill information. Take some time to look over any
information you receive from your current Medicare Advantage or Part D plan
providers; contact Brittany at Senior Resources—377-7433—if you questions.
“The
Mission
of Senior
Resources
is to services
providetoservices
to seniors
and other
“The
Mission
of Senior
Resources
is to provide
seniors and
other persons
of need,
to assist
in their
an independent,
and participating
persons
of need,
to ability
assist to
in be
their
ability to beactive
independent,
active and
member
of
their
community.”
participating members of their communities.”
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Powerful Tools for Caregivers
Techniques for maintaining your own health while
you care for another
Are you caring for a spouse or partner, parent,
friend or neighbor—in your own home
or elsewhere?
In this six-week series, you’ll learn ways to:
 Reduce stress
 Communicate in challenging situations
 Master caregiving decisions
 Find and use community resources
 Deal with anger, guilt, depression
Caregivers
Support Group
3rd Thursday
each month
1:30 & 3:00 PM
Thorne Crest Activities Rm
1201 Garfield Ave Albert Lea
For more information
call Nancy at
507-377-7433
Tuesday MORNINGS 10 to 11:30 AM
October 14 to November 18
MUST PRE-REGISTER 507-377-7433
Living Well
For info
on
with Chronic Conditions
classes Stanford Chronic Disease Self-management Program
contact
For any adult with long-term health conditions,
Nancy at
including arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure,
377-7433
Parkinson’s, depression, heart or lung disease,
fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and
other conditions.
Being a caregiver can be both
gratifying—and exhausting.
You don’t need to do it alone.
Family Caregivers Network is
here to support, educate, and
encourage those who provide
care for others.
Six-week series—practical skills for living better:
The mind/body connection
Getting a good night’s sleep
Dealing with difficult emotions
Pain & fatigue management
Preventing falls & improving balance
Tuesday AFTERNOONS 2 to 4 PM
October 14 to November 18
MUST PRE-REGISTER 507-377-7433
Blue Zones Project® Homecoming
Wednesday, November 5th
5 to 6:30PM
Albert Lea High School Auditorium
2000 Tiger Lane Albert Lea, MN
Dan Buettner
Join us in a community wide Blue Zones Project® homecoming
celebration! Come hear more about how you can be involved
and start living longer better TODAY!
Featuring New York Times best-selling author Dan Buettner,
author of The Blue Zones and Thrive
BlueZonesProjectAlbertLea@Healthways.com
3
Chore services
Advocacy
Check out our affordable snow removal this
winter. We serve seniors in Freeborn County
aged 60 years and better with services
provided by experienced professional
contractors. Call Amanda at
Senior Resources 507-377-7433
Feeling overwhelmed by bills,
or just getting through your mail?
Advocacy is here to help Freeborn County
seniors with issues like these:
 Housing
 Transportation
 Energy Assistance
 Drug plans
 Home healthcare
 Food programs and home-delivered
meals
 Finances
 Telephone assistance
 Social Security
Call Brittany or Amanda for an appointment
Chore Services can also
help you with:








Snow removal/lawn mowing
Minor repair and fix-up
Eves trough cleaning
Hedge trimming
Small painting projects
Storm window & screen removal
Roof raking (single story homes)
Housekeeping referrals
Experience Works (formerly Green Thumb)
offers full- and part-time jobs for those 55
and better; skills training; and job-seeking
assistance.
Our service is provided through a grant from
the Older Americans Act. Participants must
meet age and income-based guidelines.
Call Elizabeth (Bette) Fulton for
an appointment at 507-377-7433.
“It’s not
even
winter
yet!”
“Helping others kindles happiness, as many studies have demonstrated. When researchers at the
London School of Economics examined the relationship between volunteering and measures of
happiness in a large group of American adults,
they found the more people volunteered, the
happier they were, according to a study in Social
Science and Medicine. Compared with people
who never volunteered, the odds of being “very
happy” rose 7% among those who volunteer
monthly and 12% for people who volunteer every
two to four weeks. Among weekly volunteers,
16% felt very happy—a hike in happiness comparable to having an income of $75,000–$100,000
versus $20,000, say the researchers.” Adapted with
permission from Simple Changes, Big Rewards: A Practical, Easy
Guide for Healthy, Happy Living
Marilyn (left), Office Manager,
and Jerri, Front Desk Volunteer,
compare injuries at the
end of July
4
Holiday Closings
Safe Driving TIPS
NO Ride Services on:
Fall driving can be challenging,
with changeable weather and the
end of daylight savings time.
Thursday & Friday, Nov. 27 & 28
Thanksgiving
Call by Tuesday, November 25
for ride on Monday, December 1
Stay alert on the road Shorter hours of
daylight means reduced visibility on the
roads. Use additional caution—pedestrians
and cyclists will be less visible.
Wednesday & Thursday, Dec. 24
& Dec. 25
Check tire pressure Make sure your
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
tires are properly inflated and have plenty
of tread.
Call by Monday, December 22
for ride on Friday, December 26
Avoid sun glare Use a good pair of
Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015
sunglasses to counter daytime glare, and
consider lenses with anti-reflective coating
to reduce night-driving glare.
New Year’s Day
Call by Tuesday, December 30
for ride on Friday, January 2, 2015
Plan ahead for wet conditions
Ride Services
Fall rains can decrease visibility and cause
hydroplaning. Make sure windshield wipers
are in good condition.
Severe Weather Policy
Prepare early for snow and ice
When Albert Lea Schools (District 241) are
closed due to bad weather, Ride Services will
not be available.
If weather causes a 2-hour delay in Albert Lea
Schools schedule, your driver may choose
whether to drive or not that day.
You will be notified if your ride is cancelled
due to a 2-hour delay.
TAXI
for Albert Lea Taxi rides
Use Taxi Vouchers on the days that
Ride Services is not available—
or anytime.
Check oil, battery, tires, defrosters. Put a
snow emergency kit in your car. Slow down
in inclement weather.
New Opportunity for VOLUNTEERS
Starting in January 2015, you can help
deliver meals in Freeborn County. Semcac, along
with RSVP at Senior Resources, will be offering
meal delivery to qualifying individuals in some of
the smaller towns within our county.
Mileage reimbursement will be available.
If you have questions, or are interested in
helping deliver meals, please call
Carrie at Senior Resources
507-377-7433.
$7.00 each (one-way)
Purchase in our office or
by mail
 For use anytime & when
Ride Services is not available
 For those age 60 or better
 Nice gift idea for taxi users you may know
($2 savings on each round-trip)
For Taxi Vouchers call 377-7433


Join our friendly team of volunteer drivers.
Mileage reimbursement available.
Call Carol at 377-7433
5
THANKS to these supporters of the Senior Scene, along with the businesses and organizations on the back cover!
SENIOR TOWER/SENIOR COURT
Safe, affordable housing for seniors 62 and older.
Promoting independence, dignity & well-being.
905 & 915 Maplehill Drive
Albert Lea, MN 56007
507-373-6622
507-373-5391
Albertleaseniorhousing.com
Senior Living Designed
by You!
Independent Living, Assisted Living,
Rehabilitation, Health Care
507-373-2311
Join us in Celebrating Nordic Heritage
Sons of Norway
N o r m a n n a Lodge 52 Box 875 Albert Lea, MN
Serving the Community S in ce 1905
www.sonsofnorwayalbertlea.com
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STAFF
Thank You
Executive Director
Annette Petersen
annettep@srofc.org
Advocacy/Guardianship
Brittany Dondlinger
brittanyd@srofc.org
Advocacy/Chore
Amanda Evans
amandae@srofc.org
Family Caregivers Network
Nancy Halvorsen
nancyh@srofc.org
Ride Services
Carol Marth
carolm@srofc.org
RSVP
Carrie Paulson
carriep@srofc.org
Office /Reception
Marilynn Lancaster
marilynnl@srofc.org
Reception Assistant
Stephanie Calderon
Bookkeeper
Diane Schewe
Donations
To Senior Scene & Senior Resources’ programs
Bill Bales, Orren Olson, Gene Pacovsky,
Solveig Sorenson, Donna Thon
In Memory of Don A. Johnson
by Carol Rask
In Memory of Rudy & Rose Kaderabek
by Al Kaderabek
In Memory of Helen Thaden
by Beth Andersland
Volunteers helping collate and address the
previous issue of the Senior Scene:
Mary Carlson, Joleen Domes, Beverly Folie,
Karen Gray, Joyce Hansen, Arlyss Haug,
Theresa Jackson, Edie Miller,
Alice Petersen, Marie Petersen, Rena Soper,
Audrey Sorenson, Virginia Stenseth
Thanks for your help!
Additional Services
Tax Aide
Bruce Owens, Coordinator
Experience Works
Bette Fulton
Board of Directors
Joe T. Anderson
Kay Goodmanson, Pres.
Polly Hillman, Secretary
Wayne Indrelie
David Kramer, Jr.
Stephan Lund, Vice Pres.
Terry Perkins
George Wichmann, Treas.
CONTACT US
Senior Resources
Skyline Plaza
1659 W. Main St.
Albert Lea, MN 56007
507-377-7433
SeniorResourcesFC.org
To view the Senior Scene online, visit our website
at SeniorResourcesFC.org
Donate to Senior Resources:
___General Donation—or specify a Senior Resources’ program
____In Memory Of_________________________________
____In Honor Of___________________________________
Your Name _________________________________
Address ___________________________________
____________________________________________
Amount
$________________
Mail to: Senior Resources
1659 West Main
Albert Lea MN 56007
The services & benefits of Senior Resources’
programs are for all people, regardless of ethnic
background, national origin, gender,
religion or disability.
A UNITED WAY AGENCY
Senior Resources is a 501c3 nonprofit organization
7
SENIOR SCENE
Senior Resources of Freeborn County
1659 West Main, Albert Lea, MN 56007
Quarterly Newsletter
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
CURT’S PHARMACY
Locally Owned
Phone: 507-373-MEDS (6337)
www.curtspharmacy.com
Open 7 days/week
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit No.424
Albert Lea, MN 56007